Application Procedure, Documents Required and Lead Time for “Application for Government Columbarium Niches 2024"」

Acquiring a suitable columbarium niche is an integral part of life for many families. While traditional burials are evolving, columbaria are still the best choice for many people. However, as the supply of government columbarium niches in Hong Kong exceeds the demand, it is important to understand how to apply for them and what documents you need to prepare during the application process in order to ensure that your family members will have a place to rest in peace. In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide to help you successfully complete your application for a government columbarium niche in 2024.

Latest supply information of columbarium niches

According to the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the supply of columbarium niches in Hong Kong will remain stable in 2024 and is expected to last until 2040. However, as demand continues to rise, members of the public still need to prepare well in advance by understanding the application procedures and required documents. With the construction of a new columbarium at Shek Mun, Sha Tin, members of the public will be able to enjoy the allotment of 40,000 new niches, which is expected to be completed by 2025. The Tsang Tsui Columbarium offers about 1,700 applications for niches per month, and there is no waiting list.

Types of government niches available for application

• Standard Niches

  A standard niche is one of the most common choices. It can accommodate the ashes of more than two deceased persons and is very suitable for small families.

  
  

• Large Niches

  Large niches can accommodate the cremains of more than four deceased persons. For additional niches, advance application is required from the FEHD and the deceased must be related to each other.
  

Prices of government niches

1. Standard Niche Charges

   • First 20 years: HK$2400

   • Renewal every 10 years: HK$1200

     
     

2. Large Columbarium Fee

   • First 20 years of storage: HK$3000

   • Renewal every 10 years: HK$1500
     

3. Monument Setting Fee

不論是標準或大型龕位，設置紀念碑的費用均為港幣$90。

Government Niches｜Location

The columbaria under the FEHD are located in Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, with a total of 17 columbaria. Details of the major columbaria are set out below:

Public columbarium	Location
Cape Collinson Columbarium	9 Cape Collinson Road, Chai Wan, HK
Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium	59 Cape Collinson Road, Chai Wan, HK
Cheung Chau Columbarium	Cheung Chau Peak Road West, Sai Wan, Cheung Chau
Diamond Hill Columbarium	199 Po Kong Village Rd, Wong Tai Sin
Fu Shan Columbarium	Lower Shing Mun Road, Tai Wai, Sha Tin, N.T.
Kwai Chung Columbarium	11-13 Wing Hau Street, Kwai Chung, NT
Lai Chi Yuen Columbarium	Mui Wo Lai Chi Yuen Cemetery, Lantau Island, N.T.
Lamma Columbarium	Family Walk, Lamma Island
Peng Chau Columbarium	Peng Chau
Tuen Mun Tsang Tsui Columbarium	15 Nim Wan Road, Tuen Mun, NT
Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase Phase I	16 Fai Ming Road, Fanling
Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase II & IV	15 Fai Ming Road, Fanling
Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase III	39 Wo Ka Lau Road, Fanling, NT
Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase V	12 Kiu Tau Road, Fanling, NT
Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI Block A	11 Kiu Tau Road, Fanling, NT
Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI Block B	3 Kiu Tau Road, Fanling, NT
Wong Nai Chung Road Columbarium	1J, Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley, HK
On Hing Lane, Shek Mun, Shatin (Completion expected in 2025)	On Hing Lane, Shek Mun, Shatin

How to apply for government niches?

骨灰龕位申請｜申請日期（曾咀靈灰安置所）

Date of Application	From 9:00 a.m. on the first day of the month to 5:00 p.m. on the last day of the month.
Allocation of niches	Non-incense-ban Standardized Niches - @850 niches Non-Infragrated Standard Niches - @850 niches Non-prohibited large scale columbarium niches - @20 niches Note: @Number of niches may be adjusted depending on the application situation
Date and Venue of Bead Mixing and Computerized Random Drawing	On the 20th day of the month following the month in which the application is accepted (or the next working day if it falls on a Saturday or a public holiday) at 10:00 a.m. at the Public Columbarium Allocation Office
Date of Allocation of Niches	FEHD will, according to the order of the churning of beads and the computerized random draw, notify the successful applicants by WhatsApp/mobile phone short message/email or post of the time to complete the formalities for allocation of niches and the payment arrangement
Application Form	FEHB 294

Conditions of Application for Government Niches

The eligibility criteria for applying for government columbarium niches include:：

• The deceased must have been a Hong Kong resident at the time of death and was cremated at a FEHD crematorium.

• or have been a Hong Kong resident for at least 10 of the 20 years prior to death and the cremated remains were cremated outside Hong Kong.

• Or the remains were legally exhumed and cremated at a FEHD crematorium in Hong Kong.

Government columbarium niches｜Required Documents for Application

When submitting your application, you will need to prepare the following documents:

• A copy of the identity card of the applicant and the deceased

• The original and duplicate copies of the ashes of the deceased

• If you are applying for the interment of the ashes of two deceased persons at the same time, you need to provide proof of the relationship between the deceased persons.

Government Columbarium Niches｜How to Apply

After completing the application form, it can be submitted in the following ways：

• dropping the application form into the drop-in box at the Hong Kong Island or Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Office during office hours.

• or through online application by submitting the required documents in pdf or jpeg format.

• Submission can also be made by email, fax or post.

Options for reuse of niches

At present, no new applications are accepted for re-use of niches, but applicants who are already on the Waiting List may continue to wait. In addition, applicants may also opt for newly-built renewable niches. According to available data, the waiting time for re-used niches can be as long as 13 years or more.

Waiting time for standard niches

Columbarium	Types of columbarium niches	Current number of applicants on the waiting list for columbarium niches (approx.)	Waiting time for columbarium niches
Cape Collinson Columbarium	Large	201	92 months
Diamond Hill Columbarium	Standard	6,380	156 months
	Large	1,245	159 months
Fu Shan Columbarium	Standard	810	87 months
	Large	196	138 months
Kwai Chung Columbarium Phase I & III	Standard	4,274	146 months
Kwai Chung ColumbariumPhase II	Standard	709	96 months
Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase Phase I	Standard	119	97 months
Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase II	Standard	152	103 months
	Large	32	90 months
Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase III	Standard	0	1 month
	Large	101個月	101 months
Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase IV	Standard	0	1 month
Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase V	Standard	591	67 months
	Large	574	116 months
Cheung Chau Columbarium Phase I	Standard	0	1 month
	Large	0	1 month
Cheung Chau Columbarium Phase II	Standard	0	1 month
	Large	1	12 months
Cheung Chau Columbarium Phase III	Standard	0	1 month
Peng Chau Columbarium	Standard	0	1 month
	Large	0	1 month
Lamma Columbarium	Standard	0	1 month
	Large	0	1 month

Are there any permanent niches in government columbaria at present?

No. All FEHD niches allocated after the amendment of the Public Health and Municipal Services (Fees) (Amendment) Regulation 2019 are renewable niches. FEHD niches allocated before this amendment are permanent niches and their use has no expiry date.

Backup options for private columbaria

Apart from the columbarium niches provided by the Government, there are a number of registered private columbaria in Hong Kong, for example:

• Kwun Yum Buddha Hall in Tsz Wan Shan

• Kwun Tsung Monastery, Hong Kong

• Chi Lin Nunnery Po Tong Pagoda

These private columbaria provide more choices to meet the different needs of the public.

How to subscribe to the Niche Allocation Notification

Members of the public can subscribe to the FEHD's Notification of Niche Allocation (except Tsang Tsui) in advance to receive the latest allocation information over the phone to ensure that they are given the first opportunity to apply.